NEW DELHI: Cricket, often referred to as a gentleman’s game, has seen its fair share of high-profile relationships and equally publicized splits.
The lives of cricketers are constantly under the spotlight, and when their personal relationships go through rocky phases, fans tend to take a keen interest.
Divorces can be challenging, even for celebrities, and many famous cricketing couples have faced these difficult moments.
Here’s a look at the top 10 divorced couples of cricket:
1. Mohammad Azharuddin and Naureen
Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Naureen were married in 1987 and were together for nearly nine years before they divorced in 1996. Azhar later married Bollywood actress Sangeeta Bijlani, which made headlines. Despite the separation, Azharuddin’s personal life remained the talk of the town, especially when his career was impacted by controversies.
2. Dinesh Karthik and Nikita Vanjara
Dinesh Karthik and Nikita Vanjara’s divorce was one of the most talked-about stories in Indian cricket. The couple separated in 2012, and soon after, Nikita married Karthik’s teammate, Murali Vijay. While the incident stirred a media frenzy, Karthik moved on and found love again, marrying India’s squash champion, Dipika Pallikal.
3. Shane Warne and Simone Callahan
Australian cricket legend Shane Warne and Simone Callahan’s marriage ended in 2005 after a 10-year relationship. Warne’s off-field antics, especially involving his personal life, often made headlines. Despite their split, Warne and Callahan co-parented their children and maintained a cordial relationship until Warne’s untimely passing in 2022.
4. Imran Khan and Jemima Goldsmith
Former Pakistan cricket captain and now political leader, Imran Khan married British socialite Jemima Goldsmith in 1995. Despite the cultural and age differences, the couple stayed together for nine years before parting ways in 2004. Their separation was a widely covered affair, especially given Khan’s status as one of Pakistan’s most iconic cricketers.
5. Shikhar Dhawan and Ayesha Mukherjee
Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and his wife Ayesha Mukherjee have parted ways after 8 years of marriage. The news of their divorce was revealed by Ayesha on her new Instagram page, where she shared a detailed post addressing the split, marking the end of their relationship.
6. Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic
After marrying Natasa Stankovic in 2020, the couple celebrated a grand renewal of their wedding vows in Udaipur on February 14, 2023, surrounded by close friends and family. However, after four years together, they mutually decided to part ways, marking the end of their journey as a couple.
7. Michael Clarke and Kyly Boldy
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke’s marriage to Kyly Boldy ended in a high-profile divorce in 2020 after seven years together. Both Kambli and Clarke’s divorces attracted significant media attention, given their celebrity status, but both have since moved forward in their personal lives.
8. Shoaib Malik and Ayesha Siddiqui, Sania Mirza
Before his high-profile marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik was involved in a highly publicized and controversial divorce with Ayesha Siddiqui. The legal dispute attracted significant media attention in both India and Pakistan. Malik eventually settled the matter, paving the way for his marriage to Mirza. However, their relationship later ended in divorce, and Malik went on to marry Ayesha Siddiqui once again.
9. Vinod Kambli and Noella Lewis
Vinod Kambli, former Indian cricketer, went through a publicized divorce from his first wife, Noella Lewis, after their marriage faced difficulties. He later found love again and remarried Andrea Hewitt.
10. Graeme Smith and Morgan Deane
Former South African captain Graeme Smith and his Irish pop singer wife, Morgan Deane, went through a very public and acrimonious divorce in 2015. The couple, who had two children together, had their issues play out in the media, with both sides voicing their grievances. Despite the split, Smith has focused on his post-cricket career, while co-parenting his children.
Divorces are never easy, even more so for public figures like cricketers. Many of these players have rebuilt their personal lives, found love again, or focused on their careers post-split.
The challenges they face off the field can be as demanding as those on the field, but their resilience often sees them through the toughest times.